2009/06/20

CITIZENS BANK SILLIES

The Phillies season isn’t even at the halfway point but the team in red pinstripes is already looking like they’ve been through a war. The team looks broken down, worn out and down right sloppy of late. The bullpen is running ragged. The swings seem half-hearted. And the fielding has been uncharacteristically sloppy. And we haven’t even hit the All-Star break.

The hometown fans are left wondering if they’ll ever see their beloved team win in person. It has become a broken record and the team is tired of hearing it, but the Phillies have been dreadful at Citizens Bank Park. And the worst part about it is that they aren’t very fun to watch either. And that’s a shame.

The Phillies pitching staff hasn’t exactly been stellar all season, but they were able to climb atop the NL East by taking advantage of the little things. Solid fielding, extra hustle, and the ability to take advantage of a team’s mistakes were the cornerstones of their road trip successes. The tables some how turn when the Phils play at home. They turn into the team getting taken advantage of.

I, like most Philadelphians, bleed red. Phillies red that is. But it has been a torturous week and a half watching this team of late. More so now than ever, the frustrating Phillies have caused me to use my remote control a little more than I’d prefer. Hell I even turned over to “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here” after Jimmy Rollins popped out for the umpteenth time. There’s nothing more painful than watching sloppy baseball. Its painful to admit, but even harder to watch.

As the old saying goes, “baseball isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.” The only problem: the Phillies look like they’ve run 23 miles already. Here’s hoping they have a second wind.